The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) neutralised 78 terrorists and rescued 175 kidnap victims across 326 operations conducted in the past month.

Issa-Onilu, who gave the figures at a monthly Joint Security Press Briefing held at the Headquarters of the agency in Abuja on Monday, disclosed that the briefing will now be conducted monthly with the security agencies.

Issa-Onilu further disclosed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps resolved 720 conflicts, while the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded over 3,000 fatalities within the same period.

He stated that the federal government had escalated security operations across the country, adding that the government was tackling banditry, insurgency, and trafficking “through seamless interagency cooperation, resulting in major arrests, rescues and asset seizures.”

“The police have carried out 326 operations within the time frame that we are relating to, of which 2,901 arrests were made. 175 kidnap victims were rescued, 78 terrorists were neutralised, and six arms trafficking rings were dismantled. 720 conflicts were resolved by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. 2,838 road fatalities were recorded by the Federal Safety Corps.

“The government’s position on this is that the FG has escalated security operations nationwide, merging tactical enforcements with intelligence-led interventions. Banditry, insurgency, trafficking, and other crimes are being tackled through seamless interagency cooperation, resulting in major arrests, rescues, and asset seizures.

“From the northeast to the Niger Delta, our security forces are reclaiming the peace, one operation at a time. Nigeria is fighting back. Decisively and collaboratively, we are taking back our country from people who are involved in these nefarious activities. Our call to action is this: we urge citizens to report threats, avoid amplifying unverified content, and join hands with authorities to protect our communities,” he said.

Speaking on the activities made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the NOA boss said, “The recoveries made by NDLEA: 2.9 million kg of cannabis, 520 kg of tramadol, 7.35 kg of methamphetamine. Arms recovered in these operations: 12 AK47s, 2 GPMGs, and 2,200-plus rounds of ammunition. During this period, NAFDAC seized 10 containers of Tramadol and five expired tomato pastes.”

On the government’s position on the war on drugs, Issa-Onilu described drugs and illegal arms as “the oxygen of criminality”, adding that government agencies were “systematically disabling these supply chains on highways, borders, and in markets, while investing in public education and rehabilitation.”

He called on members of the public to say no to drugs, report peddlers, and support reformed users, adding that communities were the frontline in the war against drugs.

The Agency hailed the efforts of security agencies, noting that Nigeria’s security forces were “recording real, measurable gains,” while calling on Nigerians to join the fight against insecurity.

“Security does not start in a battlefield-it begins in our homes, our values, our truthfulness, and our resolve. Let us protect what is ours, stand with our institutions, and unite behind the cause of a peaceful, progressive Nigeria,” the DG stated.